UK expat oil worker Alastair 'Ally' Cooper appears in Pattaya Court charged with Internet related offences.

Pattaya, 22nd December 2015

Alastair 'Ally' Cooper

A UK expat oil worker from Hull has been indicted in Pattaya Provincial Court in Thailand charged with Internet related offences.

Alastair 'Ally' Stuart Cooper has been formally indicted for allegedly using a Facebook profile to commit  a range of computer offences such as posting electronically altered images, as well as allegedly posting threats and defamatory remarks.

In a case filed by Drew Noyes Cooper has been charged jointly with the offences with Andrew Michael Drummond, a UK based blogger.

Drummond did not appear in Court as he had already absconded whilst on bail in January 2015, and the Court has issued an arrest warrant.

Cooper will face trial in November next year, and could face up to twenty years in prison if convicted - under Thai law each post carries a maximum 5 year jail term, but in cases with multiple posts, the aggregate sentence is capped at 20 years.

Cooper claims in his defence he was a tourist despite having a wife and young daughter in Thailand's North East.

Cooper pleaded not guilty,  and was released on bail of THB 100, 000 (GBP 2,000) and now can only leave Thailand with the permission of the Court.

Cooper is expected to face further charges.

IPSO censures Ayrshire Post newspaper over Andrew Drummond article.

London, 17th December 2015

This article has been re-posted here IPSO censures Ayrshire Post over Andrew Drummond Article.

Alleged Russian Credit Card scammer Evgeny Titov refused bail in Pattaya Court.

Titov and Temur at their arrest.

Pattaya, 20th November 2015

One of two Russian men arrested for allegedly using counterfeit credit cards to pay for a million-baht shopping spree in Pattaya has been refused bail again in Pattaya Court.

Temur Rutamov, 35, and Evgeny Titov, 27, were arrested earlier this year with 79 bogus credit cards, a skimmer device, and a laptop computer.

Titov had applied for bail in Pattaya Court last month, but was refused due to the fact that he had no verifiable address and that credit card offences with so many cards attract jail terms of up to fifty years.

Titov had previously applied for bail offering a bond of THB 800,000 (GBP 15,000) but bail was refused in both Pattaya Court and the Court of Appeal

In March this year, police had been tipped off by Kasikorn Bank security officers that foreigners were using fake cards to purchase valuables and airline tickets at shopping malls in Pattaya. 

Among the items were pricey clothes at Central Festival Pattaya Beach and air tickets to Dubai from a travel agency on Second Road near Soi 13 where Temur was caught.

Rutamov was arrested and led police to Titov.

Visa agent Sean Tinsley remanded in custody in Pattaya

Pattaya, Friday 6th November 2015

Tinsley - Convicted and in Custody

A British expat operating a visa service in Pattaya is in custody after surrendering to Pattaya Court.

Sean Tinsley, who was previously found not guilty in Pattaya Court of the attempted murder of attempted murder of Adam Pickles, surrendered after an arrest warrant was issued in late October.

The arrest warrant was issued when Tinsley failed to appear for the reading of a decision of the Region 2 Court of Appeal at the end of October, claiming a medical issue prevented him going to Court.

In a short judgement, the Region 2 Court of Appeal reversed the decision  of the lower Court and convicted Tinsley of the lesser charge of the aggravated assault of school teacher Adam Pickles and sentenced Tinsley to six years in jail.

Tinsley was said to have been infuriated after a minor road accident, and Pickles was later found with severe head trauma a short distance from the incident following a chase. 

Tinsley applied for bail today (Friday 6th November) which was refused. Tinsley had offered a cash bail of THB 900, 000 (approx. GBP 18,000) but the bail application will now be referred to the Supreme Court.

Tinsley is currently in the Pattaya Special Remand Prison at Nong Palai, and is awaiting the processing of the further bail application at Pattaya Court, which by law must now be referred to the Supreme Court of Thailand. This can take up to ten working days.

Shortly after the near deadly assault, Adam Pickles was airlifted back to the UK for medical treatment and rehabilitation,  and remains in a care and rehabilitation facility in a semi concious state.

UK Expat Thor Halland (aka Phillip Holland) fails to appear in Thai Court - arrest warrant issued

Monday 19th October 2015

Thor Halland aka Phillip Holland

A UK expat charged with robbery and extortion today failed to appear in Pattaya Court and was deemed to be a wanted fugitive after the Court issued a warrant for his arrest.

Thor Halland, who changed his name from Phillip Holland, was due to appear in Court after being released on bail.

On his failure to appear, the Court adjourned the case for two months, and issued a warrant for Halland/Holland.

Immediately after being released on bail from Nong Palai Prison, Halland is said to have assualted his disabled wife and threatened to kill a former friend in a blind rage

Halland's wife immediately reported the matter to Pattaya Police who obtained a second arrest warrant for Halland/Holland.

Police are said to have been disgusted that Halland/Holland assualted his diabled wife, over allegations she had not worked hard enough to secure Halland/Holland's release on bail.

Zabodaev and Halland/Holland at their arrest

Halland/Holland was charged with two others, Dennis Zabodaev after allegedly being coerced by Halland/Holland to stand as 'bodyguard' while Halland/Holland threated 'Laurent' in an extortion bid that became a comedy of errors - the whole farce was caught on CCTV!

Halland/Holland and Zabodaev were denied bail and sent to Nong Palai prison, but authorities were forced to separate them as Zabodaev alleges he was unaware of what was going on.

A third man remains at large.

Halland/Holland, allegedly previously held in a psychiatric hospital, was ostracised in prison, being described as a 'homosexual oddball' with 'low standards of hygiene'.

Alba Laws LLP and Sukanya Worakham to sue Sukothai Inter Law over false criminal charges.

Lawyers acting for Alba Laws and Sukanya Worakham have announced they will sue Thai lawyer Yongyuth Srikrishna of Sukothai International Law, who have offices in Pattaya and Samui, for malicious prosecution and filing false criminal charges.

Miller - sentenced to 38 years

Sukanya Worakham and Alba Laws were last month found not guilty of fraud and theft in a case filed by Srikrishna on behalf of the mother of Greg Miller, a convicted paedophile who committed suicide after being sentenced to 38 years in jail for the serial rape of a 9 year old boy.

Worakham was found not guilty on 22nd September after a two year campaign of #internetharrassment spearheaded by a convicted criminal and wanted fugitive had already as good as convicted her on the internet.

Worakham had featured on the web site of Andrew Drummond, who is now on the run with seven outstanding arrest warrants.

Andrew Drummond - on the run 

A third defendant, Brian Goudie has already lodged documents with Pattaya Court and officers of the Anti Corruption squad following irregularities being revealed in Court files. Goudie and Worakham were jointly charged and lawyers say it is impossible to convict one party and dismiss against the others.

#andrewdrummond #albalaws #sukothainterlaw #yongyuthsrikrishna

Expat Oil Worker Alastair 'Ally' Cooper indicted under Thailand's Computer Crimes Act

Pattaya, 27th August 2015

Ally Cooper - indicted on Computer Crimes charges

An expat oil worker who has part time residence in Thailand has been indicted under Thailand's tough Computer Crimes Act.
Alastair 'Ally' Cooper was in Court 3 of Pattaya Provincial Court to face an indictment containing approximately 80 criminal charges which are a mixture of defamation, insult by publication and Computer Crimes Act charges.

In a case file by Drew Noyes, Cooper was indicted on the basis that convicted criminal and wanted fugitive Andrew Drummond had named him as a 'supporter' of Drummond's blog and therefore able to be jointly prosecuted with Drummond.

In case number 5746/2557 Cooper will face a range of charges, some in his own right and some jointly with Drummond - a warrant for Drummond's arrest was issued in this case in July of this year.

Drummond - implicated Cooper

Lawyers for Noyes said privately that this case would never have been able to proceed had Drummond not implicated Cooper - Drummond of course absconded whilst on bail from Thailnd earlier this year leaving Cooper to face the charges alone.

Initially Cooper's lawyer sought to adjourn in the basis that he had only recently been appointed, however the Court advised no adjournment would be allowed and would give Cooper a few minutes to get to the Court room before issuing an arrest warrant.

A somewhat bemused Cooper arrived a few minutes later and was told via his Thai wife who acted as an interpeter that he had to lodge a bail band of THB 100,000 (GBP 2,000) with the Court, surrender his passport and was told he  would not be allowed to travel overseas without the permission of the Court.

Cooper was held in detention cells while his bail was processed and released around 1700 hrs.

Sources say Cooper has been sought by Noyes and others for some time and at least two other cases failed to proceed amidst claims that Cooper was not resident in Thailand - a defence he negated by himself when he filed civil and criminal charges against Noyes along  with Brian Goudie and David Hanks.

Goudie was in Court today in company with police officers who were waiting to arrest Drummond if he appeared as Goudie had arrest warrants for Drummond issued in case numbers 1269/2556 and 1826/2556 in Koh Samui Provincial Court.

Further cases are expected to be waiting for Cooper on his next appearance.

Cooper was not required to enter a plea and was remanded on bail to appear on October 19th.

#andrewdrummond #allycooper

Drew Noyes - Andrew Drummond lies again!

Pattaya, 27th August 2015

Andrew Drummond - a 'liar' and 'incapable of telling the truth'.

A US businessman involved in ongoing litigation with a British journalist has spoken out today calling the journalist a 'liar'.

Drew Noyes spoke out from the US where he travelled to during an ongoing case and said that Andrew Drummond posting on his blog there was a warrant for Noyes,  or that anyone from Noyes' office had made any comments was 'a complete fabrication'.

Sources at Pattaya Court have confirmed there is no arrest warrant for Noyes.

Drummond,  who absconded whilst on bail in  a case filed by Noyes,  and who has at least five outstanding arrest warrants, was described previously on this site as being a journalist 'incapable of telling the truth' following dozens of inaccuracies being published on his site.

In recent months Drummond has failed to attend Court on at least five occasions, hencentral arrests warrants were issued, yet reports others are 'on the run' leading to accusations that Drummond is a hypocrite.

A number of complaints are now pending with the UK Independent Press Standards Organisation  (IPSO) and the UK Information Commissioners Office (ICO) regarding Drummond's site and web host Google is expected in coming months to come under increasing pressure to address accusations that Google is hosting Drummond's blog on it's Blogger platform in contravention of UK and European defamation,  data and privacy laws, sometimes referred to as the 'right to be forgotten'.

#andrewdrummond #allycooper

Thai Blogger formally indicted for sedition for Facebook post.

Bangkok, August 26th 2015

A Thai national arrested last month for allegedly preading a false rumour about Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Thai Prime Minister and his wife has been formally indicted today.

At just after 3pm this afternoon 'Rinda' was formally indicted at the Office of the Thai Judge Advocate General, and then sent to the Bangkok Remand Prison,  before being released on bail later in the evening.

Rinda Parichabutr, was arrested by military police last month and charged with offenses under Articles 116 and 348 of the Penal Code, the laws on sedition and on spreading rumours that might cause public panic.

Prosecutors allege Parichabutr shared an online message through the Line chat application and Facebook that the PM and his wife sent about 10 billion baht to a secret bank account in Singapore, a statement now known to be false.

In addition to the sedition  offences, Rinda was also indicted of offenses under Article 14/2 of  Thailand's tough Computer Crimes Act for importing false information into the internet.

If found guilty under Article 116 alone, she could face up to seven years’ imprisonment.

Military officers arrested Rinda without a warrant on 8 July 2015 and detained her incommunicado for a night at a military base before transferring her to the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) the next day.

Thai Court of Appeal says Web Site Owners beware - Andrew Drummond convicted again!

Pattaya 2nd August 2015

Andrew Drummond - Convicted again.

The Thai Region 2 Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal filed by fugitive Andrew Drummond and confirmed Pattaya Provincial Court made no error when it convicted Drummond in February 2014 of  criminal defamation.

In a decision that is expected to cause great concern for many web site administrators, the Court of Appeal found that web site owners can  be held responsible for defamatory comments by posters, even if the posters cannot be located or identified.

Pattaya Court had previously convicted Drummond, who defended the case on the basis that he was a 'journalist doing his job' but in sentencing Drummond the Court said:

'(*translation) The Defendant's occupation is as a journalist but he must only publish the truth'.

This follows a decision by the Court of Appeal in Bangkok confirming the defamation conviction of Thai Day website administrator for publishing comments made by media mogul Sondhi Limongkul.

Drummond, currently on the run with at least five outstanding arrest warrants, did not appear at the reading of the appeal, and the time to lodge any further appeal to the Supreme Court has now expired and as such the decision is final.

Drummond currently has outstanding arrest warrants in cases filed by Drew Noyes, Brian Goudie and Hanks. The new cases Drummond faces have been brought not only in relation to defamation, but aloso under Thailand's Computer Crimes Act.

Drummond site - Blocked!

Drummond's site has already been blocked by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT).

In the current case, Drummond was convicted in February of 2014 in a case filed by Drew Noyes and David Hanks, and jailed for four months and fined the equivalent of GBP 800. The jail sentence was suspended for 2 years. Drummond later appealed on the basis that he did not personally make the comment that referred to Hanks and Noyes as a 'pimp'.

At trial, Drummond had alleged that a third party 'Tony' had posted the comment and as such he was not personally guilty of any offence.

In a lengthy decision three judges of the Region 2 Court of Appeal said

(translation)* 'it is clear from the evidence that 'Tony' was the poster of the defamatory statement but both Plaintiffs filed the case on the basis that the Defendant (sic Andrew Drummond) was the owner of the website and allowed others to post comments and therefore the Defendant had the intention to allow third parties to post illegal comments'.

The Court in dismissing the appeal and confirming Drummond's conviction said:

(translation)* 'the Defendant was the owner of the web site and knew that 'Tony' was the person who had posted the comment but the Defendant failed to answer the charge that he did not delete the defamatory comments. The Court of First Instance found that the Defendant had aided and abetted the posting of the defamatory comments by allowing a third party to post on the website according to document No. 4 and therefore the Court of Appeal dismisses the appeal.

In a long week in the Courts, a case filed against David Hanks by the DSI  was dismissed and Hanks has sent a clear warning that a swathe of defamation cases can be expected.

Hanks - bloggers beware!

In what is thought to be a sign of things to come three web sites have already deleted material related to Noyes, Hanks and Goudie, being Sub Zero Siam Prachathai and Isaan 50 - at least 15 other web sites, 2 Thai Newspapers and Five UK newspapers are said to  have also been put on notice.

Of the three, Isaan 50 had previously carried dozens of articles linking to Drummond's blog, but all of the material has now been deleted - the three speculate out of fear of prosecution after seeing that Drummond had been convicted and subsequently absconded.

Hanks said today:

' We are very happy with this decision. Web site owners, newspapers and bloggers beware - the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeal have made it clear that if you write anything that is not true, or let a third party post or use defamatory words on your website or post defamatory comments under Thai law you can be prosecuted and following this decision will be convicted and face jail'.

UPDATE:

Lawyers for Hanks have stated they will go back to Court to have Drummond's suspended sentence revoked and have sentenced to an immediate jail term due to an unspecified breach of the Court decision.

Drummond has repeatedly stated he will return to Thailand, but would of course be immediately taken into custody at any Thai border crossing.

Sources say Drummond would face an uphill battle to be bailed before trial as he absconded whilst on bail, has failed to comply with two Court orders and has failed to appear in at least five other cases in which he has outstanding arrest warrants.

#andrewdrummond #allycooper

Girvan man David Hanks lashes out at corrupt Thai police.

Pattaya, 19th August 2015

Hanks - calling for an investigation. 

An expat business man in Thailand has lashed out at what has been described as 'rampant corruption' in Thailand's Department of Special Investigations (DSI).

David Hanks, 67, formerly of Girvan in Ayrshire, was this week acquitted of charges of illegal money lending after Pattaya Provincial Court found there was 'no reliable evidence' against Hanks.

Following being exonerated, Hanks this week has called for an investigation into why he was even charged with the offences, alleging corrupt police officers had asked for payments of up to THB 3 million  (USD 100,000) at his arrest to 'make it go away'.

At Hanks' trial,  in a case that was investigated by Thailand' s Department of Special Investigations, it was revealed that Russian witnesses had been told by DSI officers to sign statements in Thai language that the 'translator' could not read.

The only evidence against Hanks was one Russian witness, Pavel Bulgakovic, who has told anti-corruption investigators  that he had been ordered to sign a statement eleven months after Hanks was arrested that had a photo of Hanks attached to it.

Bulgakovich later said that he had been threatened by DSI officers and signed the statement under duress, but did not know what it said as neither he nor his 'translator' could read Thai language.

A Pattaya police officer admitted at trial that he had obtained an arrest warrant for a third man, known only as 'David' who had a different physical description to Hanks and lived at a different address - and was at least 20 years younger than Hanks.

Sources at the Pattaya Prosecutors Office allegedly told Hanks they had previously  decided not to pursue the case as there was no evidence against Hanks - then DSI investigators miraculously provided the photo identification eleven months later that implicated Hanks.

Six other witnesses had told the Court at a pre-trial hearing that they had never seen or heard of Hanks, but had borrowed money from another Russian national Ayrat Khabiryanov.

Andrew Drummond - DSI informant

Hanks, who also has an ongoing legal action with convicted criminal and wanted fugitive blogger Andrew Drummond, has asked investigators to ascertain if the photo was provided to the DSI by Drummond, who has previously reported on his blog that he is a DSI informant and has provided information and documents to them.

Hanks said today in Pattaya:

'Now that the trial is over I am able to speak out.

My lawyers have told me I should never even have been charged with this offence, but while I have been relentlessly attacked in the media I was advised that I must not speak out before for fear of prejudicing the case.

This has dragged on for two years and as 67 year old man with no criminal record it has been an absolute nightmare.

The case has received wide media attention and I have been branded as 'Mafia' and a 'gangster' - I already filed a case for this against Andrew Drummond but he absconded and fled Thailand befoe he could be put on trial - but I now have an arrest warrant for him.

My lawyers have spoke  to anti-corruption police and are calling for an investigation into how a convicted criminal and wanted fugitive can be allowed to act as a police informant to help to bring false criminal charges.

Drummond and his supporters have engaged in an incredible campaign of media and Internet harassment and every last one of them that can be identified will be prosecuted.

I have instructed my lawyers to prosecute every newspaper and website, every blogger and every journalist, whether in Thailand or overseas, that has misreported this case'.

Pattaya Court issues arrest warrants for Sukanya Pechan.

Pattaya, 18th August 2015

Sukanya Pechan-arrest warrant issued.

Pattaya Provincial Court has issued two arrest warrants for a Thai National who ran a travel and legal consulting business in Pattaya.

Sukanya Pechan is being prosecuted by two of her ex business partners, John McDonald and Storm Simpson, for allegedly falsifying records of company meetings and failed to turn up at trial.

In case number 441/2558 and case number 442/2558 at a preliminary hearing in June this year the Court heard evidence that shareholder had not been advised of compay meetings, and that company assets had been sold and the funds could not be traced in company bank accounts.

P.S. Legal Cha Am - closed.

Pechan, who is rumoured to also have arrest warrants in Cha Am, near Petchaburi  where she set up two new offices for her new company, P.S. Legal Group, following her departure from her office in Pattaya in 2013.

The offices in Cha Am however also now have been closed and Pechan's current whereabouts are unknown.

Thai Court dismisses case against expat David Hanks - 'no reliable evidence' Hanks was involved.

Pattaya, 18th August 2015

David Hanks - all charges dismissed

Pattaya Provincial Court this morning dismissed a case filedby Thailand's so called elite Department of Special Investigations (DSI) involving an expat business man alleging he had been involved in an operation lending money to Russian tourists in the resort town of Pattaya, Thailand.

David John Hanks, formerly of Givan in Ayrshire had all charges dismissed after the Court found that there was 'no reliable evidence' to connect Hanks to the money lending operation that was operated by Russian national Ayrat Kabharov.

Khabarov at his arrest by the Department of Special Investigations

Six Russian witnesses who had given evidence at a pre-trial hearing all stated clearly that they had no idea who Hanks was, had never met him, and had only met Khabarov. Khabarov absconded whilst on bail last year.

The co-accused in the case, Alexander Komondorkiy did not appear at trial on health grounds, and the Court postponed his case and issued an arrest warrant so that Komondorsky could be detained should he attempt to enter Thailand.

Khabarov was arrested in June 2014 by Thailand's Department of Special Operations, but at the trial in August 2015 allegations surfaced that witnesses had been 'verballed' and had signed statements in Thai language that had not been properly translated to them - the Russian translator involved was later forced to admit that he could not read Thai and had no idea what he or the witnesses had signed.

Hanks was represented by lawyer Sanya Namnaphon of Alba Laws LLP at trial, who also recently represented Rashid Grasanov, who was also found not guilty amidst allegations of police misconduct in the case.

Lawyers for Hanks are now considering what action can be taken against the officers involved, and whether charges for misconduct can be laid.

The case has attracted significant media attention in both the Thai and foreign press, and on the internet and Hanks is now expected to file charges against all of media the outlets that misreported that Hanks was 'mafia' or 'a gangster' or involved in 'racketeering' and 'money laundering'.


Hanks said at the Court this morning:

'I am obviously delighted at the outcome of the case, and happy that I have finally been able to clear my name after two years of media harassment and personal attacks on the internet - all coordinated by a journalist already convicted of libel in a case I filed, and who is now on the run with several arrest warrants outstanding after absconding whilst on bail.

From the outset I have maintained my innocence and repeatedly stated I had nothing to do with this - I even provided prosecutors and police with statements from witnesses that witnesses were forced to sign statements in Thai language and had no idea what they had signed, and will now certainly pursue that matter.

The icing on the cake was when the 'translator' admitted he had no idea what the statements said.

My family and I have been subjected to a disgraceful media campaign and called 'mafia' and a 'gangster', and  it is time for that hate campaign of harassment to be addressed in the Courts,

I cannot thank my lawyer Sanya Namnaphon enough for his diligence in pursuing this case, and for his tireless efforts to have this case brought to this conclusion today'.

Jomtien real estate agent Andy Mathews ordered to surrender to Pattaya Court for threatening to kill former business partner.

Pattaya, August 1st 2015 

Andy Mathews - threatened to kill his ex employer

Pattaya Provincial Court has ordered a Jomtien real estate agent to surrender to the Court to answer charges of threatening to kill his former business partner.

In a case brought by Rolf Haupt, a real estate investor based in Hong Kong, the Court ordered Andrew 'Andy' Mathews to be arrested and brought before the Court to answer allegations that Mathews has issued various death threats against Haupt after Haupt filed several defamation cases against Mathews.

Mathews was ordered to appear on September 15th or an arrest warrant will be issued.

Mathews was previously arrested in October 2014 in a case brought by Haupt's company and a further case filed by a female employee of the company and spent three weeks in custody earlier this year after breaching his bail conditions twice.

It is alleged Mathews has sent hundreds of written threats and defamatory statements by email and SMS message to a number of other people.

At least ten reports have been made to Pattaya Police, and a recent SMS message is alleged to have said that any witness that attends Court will be stabbed to death.

At four recent preliminary hearings, the Court heard witness evidence and was satisfied a prima facie case exists for Mathews to face multiple criminal trials.

It is alleged in Court documents that Mathews has for at least a year been threatening a number of individuals, as well as sending hundreds of harassing emails.

Mathews is now expected to face an extremely tough bail hearing  as he has already been convicted three times in recent years in Thailand for violent offences, most recently for assault and aggravated criminal trespass, and has at least two current pending suspended terms of imprisonment totalling 26 months jail in total.

Lawyers are now expected to vigorously oppose bail in all cases against Mathews, citing a number of written threats made by Mathews not only to Haupt, but also allegedly to witnesses in the case.

Mathews joins his previous ally Andrew Drummond, the fugitive journalist, who also has several outstanding arrest warrants issued by Pattaya Court.

Andrew Drummond - Mathews previous ally, but now on the run after absconding whilst on bail.

Convicted journalist Andrew Drummond falsely reports story of convicted paedophile Gregory Miller.

Pattaya, 30th July 2015

Andrew Drummond -  'incapable of reporting the truth'.

Journalist Andrew Drummond, who absconded on bail from Thailand and fled to the UK in January of this year has falsely reported a convicted paedophile was 'fitted up' has been accused of being 'incapable of reporting the truth'.

Drummond with two criminal convictions and seven outstanding arrest warrants in Thailand has reported that Gregory James Miller, who recently passed away in Chonburi Hospital where he had been taken from Rayong Regional Prison, was ''fitted up', Drummond reports:

That Greg Miller was fitted up on several charges is a given. A retrial was ordered and six out of seven child sexual abuse charges were dismissed and five out of seven kidnapping charges were dismissed.

Greg Miller - died in custody

 In fact, Miller pleaded guilty to all charges against the advice of his former lawyer after changing lawyers from Alba Laws LLP, to Yongyuth Sirikrishna of Sukhothai Inter Laws in Pattaya received his sentence.

Lawyer Sanya Namnaphon of Alba Laws LLP had already secured Miller's release on bail for urgent medical treatment before a former staff member encouraged Miller to pay her a large sum of money, and later staged a robbery at the Alba Laws offices to try to cover the fact that she had been embezzling company funds - following a recent internal police investigation prompted by a complaint to the Royal Thai Police Internal Affairs unit,  an arrest warrant is now imminent for the staff member on charges of theft, fraud, trespass and embezzlement.

Miller later said that his new lawyers guaranteed him a maximum sentence of 10 years and all parties were stunned when the Court handed down in Novemeber 2014 what was one of the highest sentences on record in Pattaya.

The Region 2 Court of Appeal ordered Miller's sentence be reviewed, but no 'retrial' was ordered.

Following the change of lawyers, Miller was sentenced to 38 years in jail, later reduced to 27 years on appeal, and Miller sued, leaving the two legal firms embroiled in a legal battle that it appears cannot be settled.

Lawyers for Alba Laws LLP said this week:

' Whilst we deeply regret the death in custody of Greg Miller, it is unfortunate that the story has been distorted in the media by a convicted criminal journalist with many outstanding arrest warrants who is simply incapable of telling the truth.

Greg Miller was not 'fitted up', in fact he pleaded guilty to all charges against our advice and changed lawyers.

The evidence against Miller was absolutely overwhelming and included video and photo evidence that the Technical Services team of the FBI were able to 'crack' on an encrypted drive.

We have tried to settle the case with his mother but have been obstructed by constant meddling and lies and deceptions in the media.

Outside of the handling of Greg's case, his new lawyers have been illegally providing confidential information to Drummond will now see them facing criminal charges in Pattaya Court next month where the lawyers are being charged with contempt of court and leaking confidential Court documents.

We have already provided the FBI with a copy of all of our files that graphically show Greg Miller was guilty as charged.'

#andrewdrummond #allycooper

Thai Court of Appeal confirms criminal conviction of fugitive journalist Andrew Drummond.

18th July 2015

Andrew Drummond - convicted and sentenced to 4 months jail.

The Region 2 Court of Appeal in Rayong has confirmed the criminal conviction of fugitive journalist Andrew Drummond on Computer Crimes charges.

Drummond, who absconded on bail from Thailand in January of this year to evade criminal prosecution failed to appear to hear the reading of the verdict and he was sentenced to four months imprisonment and fined GBP 800 in his absence.There is an existing arrest warrant in the case that is valid for 10 years.

Drummond was convicted in February 2015 in a case filed by David Hanks and Drew Noyes and following his conviction filed an appeal before absconding on bail.

Drummond also recently failed to appear in Pattaya Court and following a previous report on this site it has now been confirmed that Pattaya Provincial Court has ordered the convicted British journalist along with one of the supporters to his site, expat oil worker Alastair 'Ally' Cooper to appear in Court on 23rd August 2015 to answer a further criminal indictment on dozens of defamation and computer crimes charges. 

In a hearing this week, lawyers for Cooper have tried to argue he cant be tried in Thailand, but the Court has made an order that Cooper appear on 23rd August 2015 or an arrest warrant will be issued.

The case was filed by Drew Noyes, Drummond was charged in connection with his Web site, and Cooper charged as a sponsor and supporter.


Alastair 'Ally' Cooper

The Court had previously ordered Thai immigration authorities to confirm Cooper's travel to and from Thailand, and to confirm an address to allow Court documents to be served.

The Court accepted witness statements and found a prima face case exists for Drummond and Cooper to jointly face trial. Both men are alleged to have posted defamatory statements online.

After accepting the case earlier this year, the Court issued a summons for both Cooper and Drummond to surrender to the Court early in May, Drummond failed to appear and the Court issued an arrest warrant for him, but Cooper had filed an application to rehear the case. Cooper's application has now been dismissed, and he must appear or join Drummond as a fugitive from justice.

A case filed by Drummond and Cooper against Noyes has already been dismissed by Bangkok Central Criminal Court.

Drummond apparently incorrectly reported the case had been filed by a third party, Brian Goudie, but lawyers for Goudie stated that they have not yet filed cases against Cooper, but expect they may receive instructions to do so. 

Drummond has been ordered to surrender to Koh Samui court on April 20th in three separate cases filed by David Hanks and Brian Goudie and when he failed to appear the Court issued three arrest warrants in Black Case numbers 1247/2556, 1269/2556 and 1826/2556.

Lawyers say the acceptance of the case against Cooper is a clear warning to parties posting comments on Drummond's blog that they can be prosecuted as supporters under Thai law, as all foreigers are required to file an address with immigration authorities.

Girvan man David Hanks tells Thai Court of his unlawful arrest by corrupt Thai police.

Pattaya, 19th June 2011

David Hanks - should never have been arrrested

A Thai Court was told this week that an expat business man on trial in Thailand on illegal money lending and usury charges should never have been arrested, never mind prosecuted.

David Hanks, 67, formerly from Girvan in Ayrshire, was on trial for allegedly funding a Russian illegal money lending syndicate.  Over a five day trial the Court was told there was not a single shred of evidence to justify Hanks being charged.

A second defendant, Alexander Komondorskiy, who worked for a Russian syndictae failed to show for trial and an arrest warrant was issued for him.

The Court heard that a member of a rival Russian syndicate, working with corrupt officers of Thailand's so called elite Department of Special Investigations (DSI) in Pattaya, had informed on a Russian national, Ayrat Khabiryanov. who was known to Hanks.

The Court was told that after Khabiryanov was arrested he was threatened to keep quiet so that the rival Russian syndicate could take over the lucrative illegal money lending business- with the promise that no legal issues would befall them as they would have the protection of the DSI - the plan was revealed after a post appeared on a Russian social networking site saying the DSI were offering to pay witnesses to make false statements.

Ayrat Khabiryanov in the red t-shirt after his arrest in June 2013

Khabiryanov, now 27,  pictured right, was arrested in a high profile operation in June 2013 - but has since absconded.

Hanks told the Court he knew Khabiryanov because Hanks has invested in a beauty pageant in December 2012 and January 2013 along with a number of prominent local businessman, and the Mayor of Pattaya, Ittipol Khunplume.

One particular police officer was unable to explain why Hanks had been arrested when 16 Russian witnesses had failed to identify him, but had instead identified a 'David' who had a different address, a different physical description, and was at least 20 years Hanks' junior.

The Court was told the high ranking police officer had obtained a search warrant and arrest warrant for another foreigner called 'David' at a different address - but subsequently arrested Hanks who had a completely different physical description. The warrant was for 'David' at another address and was for a man in his 40's - Hanks is 67.

A high ranking DSI officer, who has already been transferred amid allegations of corruption, was named as being at the centre of the proposed illegal money lending and protection scam.

Two DSI officers told the Court that two Russian men, 'Alex' and 'Pavel' were alleged by police to have pointed to a photo of  Hanks and identified him, but in cross examination by Hanks' lawyer, Sanya Namnaphon, police were forced to admit that in their vigour to close the case, they had failed to remove a time stamp from the photo that showed the photo was only available to police nine months after Hanks was arrested.

Hanks' lawyers also asked the Court to investigate why information about the case had been leaked to the Press, and why he had been wrongfully linked to a fourth Russian Man, Alexander Matsov, an infamous Russian Mafia figure who was not involved in the case at all.

Hanks made no comment after the close of the trial as he has been told for legal reasons he must wait for the judgement of the Court.

The Court will render its verdict on 18th August at 0900hrs.

Pattaya Court issues arrest warrant for Thai journalist Kanokrat Booth

Pattaya, 11th June 2013

Kanokrat Booth - on the run from malicious prosecution charges.

Pattaya Provincial Court has issued an arrest warrant for Kanokrat Nimsamooth Booth (กนกรัตน์ นิ่มสมุทธ บูส) after she failed to appear in Court to answer criminal charges of malicious prosecution.

Booth, a  Thai journalist, has been committed to trial to face the charges filed by Drew Noyes, following criminal charges filed by Booth against Noyes being dismissed earlier this year.

Drew Noiyes

The Court heard that Booth was unable toi attend as she was on 'important business', however the presiding judge found there was no evidence to support her reason for failing to appear, that Booth was aware of the need to appear, and the Court therefore was of the opinion that Booth intended to evade justice and made an order that an arrest warrant be issued.

Booth was previosly refuised entry to the UK in 2010 following UK immigraiton being advised her marriage to Dennis Booth had broken down. Booth was detained at Glasgow Airport before being deported to Thailand.

Booth appealed the decision by UK immigration, and despite success in the Immigration Appeal Tribunal, UK immigration has since not permitted her to re- enter the UK.

Booth grabbed media intention when she threatended to commit suicide in front of the UK Embassy in Bangkok.

Drummond - seven arrest warrants.

Recently, Booth has been involved in several cases involving convicted criminal Andrew Drummond, who adsconded whilst on bail on Computer Crimes charges in December 2014, and now has seven outstanding arrest warrants, and rumours abound that Drummond may face the prospect of extradition from the UK to Thailand - or prosecution in the UK.

The Thai Ministry of Information and Communications Technology (MICT) has already blocked Drummond's site.

Thai Immigration Police arrest expat Thor Halland in Thailand on kidnapping and extortion charges.

Thor Halland - alleged to have posed as a Russian Mafia gangster.

Pattaya, 21st May 2015

Thai immigration police arrested an expat in Thailand this week on charges of kidnapping, extortion, theft and threatening behaviour.

Thor Halland, 46, has a UK passport but is thought to be of Norwegian descent,  was arrested after Pattaya Provincial Court issued two arrest warrants on 19th May 2015 in case numbers 230/2558 and 251/2558 following a report by French businessman Lauren Thierry.

Thierry reported to police that a gang of men led by a 'Russian Mafia' mobster called 'Dmitry'  had kidnapped him and stole a number of items from his apartment, and then released him but continued to threaten him and forced him to pay more 'protection money'.

The 'Russian gang leader'  called 'Dmitry' was later identified from CCTV footage as #ThorHalland.

In police statements, it is alleged Halland had posed as the head of a Russian Mafia gang and kidnapped Thierry with the intent to threaten and extort him.

Police examined CCTV footage and identified Halland, and a Russian man, Dennis Zabodaev, as being two of the 'gang'.

Following Pattaya Court issuing the arrest warrants Thierry says Pattaya police were unable to locate Halland or Zabodaev, and as a result engaged One Stop Legal Services to locate these dangerous offenders.

Pattaya Immigration office was supplied early this week with information from One Stop Legal Services which then allowed Police Colonel Prapansak,  Superintendent of Pattaya Immigration, to arrest Halland and Zabodaev.

Two other Russian men, not named for legal reasons, still remain at large.

After the arrest, Halland and Zabodaev were sent to Pattaya Court on Thursday this week, where they were refused bail and remanded in custody prior to being sent to the Pattaya Special Remand Prison at Nong Palai.

While Halland and Zabodaev may appeal the decision of the Court to remand the pair in Court over concerns for witness safety, it is possible that both will remain in custody pending trial as the offences carry a potential custodial jail sentence of  more than twenty years if the men are convicted at trial.

Police sources have described the crime as extremely amateurish,  as both men made no attempt to conceal their identity and were easily identifiable from CCTV footage.

Bangkok Central Criminal Court finds Drew Noyes not guilty in case filed by wanted British Journalist Andrew Drummond.

Bangkok, April 20th 2015

Andrew Drummond - absconded on bail to evade justice

Bangkok Central Criminal Court today found Drew Noyes, Pattaya Times and Wanrapu Boonsu not  guilty in a defamation and Computer Crimes case today in a case filed by British Journalist Andrew Drummond.

Drummond is a convicted criminal and wanted fugitive, and was, previously the correspondent in Thailand for the London Evening Standard.

In Black case number 3509/2556, in which Drummond alleged his reputation was damaged by the publishing of a letter written by the Public Relations Department, the Court found the publication of the letter was not defamatory as it contents were correct and verified, and also that Drummond had failed to appear to give evidence therefore there was no evidence before the Court that Drummond had been damaged in any way.

Kanokrat Booth - now facing prosecution.

Drummond gave evidence by appointing Kanokrat Nimsamooot Booth (nกกนกรัตน์ นิ่มสมุทธ บูส) as Power of Attorney, but the Court found the failure of Drummond to appear made the case nugatory. 

Drummond and Booth are now expected to have further criminal charges filed against them for filing false criminal charges. Booth is already facing indictment in Pattaya after a previous case in which she had filed against Noyes was involved was also dismissed.

 Drummond has two criminal convictions in Thailand, after being convicted by James Lumsden in the Supreme Court of Thailand, and was convicted in Pattaya on 4th February 2015 by Drew Noyes and David Hanks.

Drummond, who absconded while on bail, and now has five arrest warrants outstanding in cases brought by Noyes, Brian Goudie and David Hanks.

Drummond is facing arrest in nearly two hundred criminal charges already accepted by the Courts in Thailand.

Drummond fled to evade justice just days before the Supreme Court of Thailand ordered him be arrested.

Noyes said today after the verdict was read:

'We are delighted that the Court reached this verdict, upholding the fact that what was written about Drummond's Press Card being cancelled by the Thai Governement was absolutely true, and that an absconded convicted criminal who has fled justice should not be able to continue to prosecute cases by using others with Power of Attorney to give evidence on his behalf in the Courts while he is a fugitive from justice.'

#andrewdrummond #allycooper #drewnoyes

Pattaya Court orders British journalist Andrew Drummond be arrested.

Pattaya, 22nd April 2015

Andrew Drummond - on the run from over a hundred criminal charges.

In what started as a bad week for fugitive British journalist Andrew Drummond when Koh Samui Court issued 3 arrest warrants for him on Monday in 3 separate cases,   Pattaya Court today issued yet another arrest warrant for Drummond, bringing the number of arrest warrants issued this week to 4.

In total Drummond now has 5 outstanding warrants in relation to over a hundred criminal charges follows:

Case number   Plaintiff        Court                Date issued             Detail              Status

2014/2557      Jim Lumsden Pattaya        27th October 2014  2 charges     Convicted
8368/2556      Drew Noyes   Pattaya         17th March 2015     11 charges  Arrest warrant
1246/2556      David Hanks  Koh Samui  20th April 2015       15 charges   Arrest warrant
1269/2555      Brian Goudie Koh Samui   20th April 2015       4 charges    Arrest warrant
1826/2556      Brian Goudie Koh Samui   20th April 2015       22 charges  Arrest warrant
9819/2555      Drew Noyes    Pattaya         22nd April 2015      2 charges    Convicted
1327/2557       Drew Noyes   Pattaya         7th May 2015          85 charged  * see note

In case 1327/2557 Drummond has been summonsed to appear in Pattaya Court on May 7th to answer 85 new criminal charges filed by Drew Noyes, which Pattaya Court accepted for trial last month - he is not expected to appear.

* Note: in case 1327/2557 Drummond is a joint defendant with Alastair 'Ally' Cooper, who has also been summonsed to appear on May 7th.

#andrewdrummond #allycooper

Pattaya Court indicts Kanokrat Booth (nกกนกรัตน์ นิ่มสมุทธ บูส) on charges of filing false charges and perjury.

Pattaya, April 23rd 2015.

Pattaya Court this morning accepted a case against Kanokrat Nismsamoot Booth กนกรัตน์ นิ่มสมุทธ บูส charges of filing false criminal charges (ฟ้องเท็จ).

Booth filed a case last year against a Thai National and Drew Noyes, and the case was dismissed against Noyes who then filed counter charges.  The counter charges have now been accepted.

The Court accepted the case this morning and issued a summons for Booth to appear in June to post bail and answer the charges, and if she does not appear it is expected Noyes will ask for an arrest warrant to be issued.

Booth filed a second case against Noyes in Bangkok, which was dismissed earlier this year, and it is expected that further charges will be filed against Booth by Noyes in coming days.

Koh Samui Court issues three arrest warrants for fugitive British Journalist Andrew Drummond.

Koh Samui, 20th April 2015

Koh Samui Provincial Court today issued arrest warrants in three criminal cases for fugitive British journalist Andrew Drummond.

Andrew Drummond - Three more arrest warrants issued

Drummond, already with two criminal convictions in Thailand, had failed to appear for the fourth time before Koh Samui Court, and an application to adjourn the case filed by Kanokrat Nimsamoot Booth on behalf of Drummond was dismissed.

Drummond by his lawyers told the Court that he was in UK arranging education for his three children and was unable to travel, however the Court was told Pattaya Court had already issued at least two arrest warrants for Drummond in the last few months and submissions were made to the effect that the arrest warrants were a greater reason for Drummond failing to appear, as Drummond would have been arrested as he entered the Court.

Brian Goudie - filed two cases

In it's decision, the Court found that Drummond had been given two chances previously to adjourn and found Drummond was intentionally trying to delay the case, deciding a further adjournment was not justified.

The Court then ordered three arrest warrants be issued for the convicted fugitive journalist, describing him as an 'escaped convict'.

Lawyer Sanya Namnaphon of Alba Laws LLP appeared on behalf of Brian Goudie and David Hanks in case number 1246/2556, 1269/2556 and 1826/2556 in which Drummond has to face approximately 40 criminal charges.

David Hanks - convicted Drummond last year

Goudie had filed two cases that were heard together, and Hanks had filed a further case over an article in the Scottish Sun that Drummond had also published on his web site.

Drummond was previously convicted on 4th February 2014 in a criminal case filed by Hanks and Drew Noyes.

Drummond was further convicted on October 27th 2014 in a case heard by the Supreme Court of Thailand in a case brought by James Lumsden.

Pattaya Provincial Court had previously issued a warrant for Drummond on 17th March in case number 8368/2556 - a case filed by Drew Noyes.

The case has approximately 85 criminal charges, and Drummond has been ordered to surrender to Pattaya Court on May 7th to answer the charges filed by Noyes.

A spokesperson for Hanks and Goudie said today:

'Brian and David are very happy that the Court saw through this ploy by Drummond today to yet again delay this case, and took a firm stand.

The fight with Drummond is not yet over - he has fled justice in Thailand, but is now within the jurisdiction of the UK Courts, and may find them less forgiving than the Courts in Thailand.

Mr Drummond says everyone is a criminal, or a fugitive, but is actually a hypocrit who always forgets to look at himself in the mirror.

Fleeing justice in Thailand is tantamount to an act of cowardice by Drummond for refusing to stand by the allegations he has made against these men, who have fought him in the Courts for the last three years'.

#andrewdrummond #allycooper